Wake up from what little sleep I managed at the 06:00 alarm and downstairs for a final cup of tea in bed. Down for breakfast by 06:30 then a final check of tickets, bags, etc - well, perhaps a penultimnate check ! Give sister Pam a call at 07:20 to find that she is just leaving home to come and pick us up. On the dot of 07:30 we have said our goodbyes to mum and are leaving for Gloucester bus station. Not using our usual Longlevens pick up today when I realised whilst checking for coach tickets that the extra 2 miles from Gloucester would actually save us about 15 pounds - more than the cost of our Bangkok hotel ! Coach 222 is waiting when we are dropped off behind a large Tesco lorry who is blocking the road. Leave at 07:45 and pass through Longlevens again before heading off in the direction of London.Anyone who might take offence at sexist comments should skip the next paragraph and allow me my useless musings ...

When we stop at Cirencester a rather buxom young lady - well, not that young actually - in a low cut top came and sat in the seats opposite us. She had a trapped audience but she - they ? - managed to help me pass an hour on the motorway. I'd never noticed how bumpy the road surface was before but now quite appreciate it. Jai managed to stay awake until Swindon but the motorway finally got the better of her.We arrive at Heathrow about 10mins early when a late arrival would probably have suited better. Cross to Terminal 3 and check our bags in before midday then head outside for a sandwich. Go through to the departure lounge where I set off the alarms as usual and undergo the most thorough pat down search ever. It is only 12:10 when we find ourselves a seat and begin the wait for our MS778 EgyptAir 15:00 departure to Cairo. Start to write up these notes but only passes 5 mins. Break up the wait with a cup of tea - only 20 pounds each !! I decide that it is then time to restart my Thai/Laos lessons with a word for the day but I will probably have forgotten it in a few hours time. We board at Gate 31 as we have the last few years and are only a little late. Bit of a scrummage boarding though as queueing is definitely out of fashion in Egypt. Take off is about 35mins late . Flight is OK, food is good but the inflight entertainment leaves a lot to be desired. Have to make do with a Bruce Willis movie Hostage.

We arrive in Cairo in the dark at 21:05 local time an hour ahead of UK. The plane actually docks at the terminal unlike previously at Cairo where we have been transferred by bus. It is a real drag crossing the terminal building to our connecting flight. Jai isnt feeling well and I think we are both missing a nights sleep already which doesnt bode well for later. Jai requires a rather long toilet stop en-route across the airport. We arrive at Gate F7 at 10:00 to wait for our 23:40 departure. The gate is not open yet and there are no seats left in the corridor so we set up home on the floor in the corner. We make sure that we are amongst the first to pass through when the gate opens, find ourselves a seat asap and Jai is straight back to sleep. We board MS960 about 1/2 hour late and it is just after midnight when the plane departs the terminal.